Ballpoint pen with slidable cap

Abstract

A ballpoint pen system having a slidable pen cap. A ballpoint ink cartridge disposed inside a pen housing has a ballpoint tip protruding out of a pen housing anterior aperture. The pen cap is disposed on a pen housing anterior end for capping the ballpoint tip. At least one linear pen cap through-slot is disposed through a pen cap side surface. At least one raised stopper located on the pen housing near the pen housing anterior end is disposed through the through-slot of the pen cap such that linearly sliding the pen cap causes the pen cap to move longitudinally relative to the pen housing. Sliding the pen cap to an extended position causes the pen cap to cover the ballpoint tip. Sliding the pen cap to a retracted position causes the ballpoint tip to protrude from the pen cap anterior aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) comprising:
 a. a tubular pen housing ( 200 ) comprising:
 i. a pen housing cavity ( 210 ); 
 ii. a pen housing anterior end ( 220 ) having a pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ) disposed thereon, wherein the pen housing cavity ( 210 ) is fluidly connected to the pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ); 
 iii. a pen housing posterior end ( 230 ); 
 iv. a pen housing shoulder ( 240 ) radially disposed around a pen housing exterior surface ( 250 ) and proximal to the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ); and 
 v. at least one raised stopper ( 260 ) protruding from the pen housing exterior surface ( 250 ), wherein the raised stopper ( 260 ) is disposed between the pen housing shoulder ( 240 ) and the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ); 
 
 b. a ballpoint ink cartridge ( 300 ) having a ballpoint tip ( 340 ), wherein the ballpoint ink cartridge ( 300 ) is disposed inside the pen housing cavity ( 210 ) such that only the ballpoint tip ( 340 ) projects through and away from the pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ); and 
 c. a pen cap ( 400 ) disposed on the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ) for capping the ballpoint tip ( 340 ), wherein the pen cap ( 400 ) comprises:
 i. a pen cap posterior end ( 410 ) with a pen cap posterior aperture ( 415 ) disposed thereon; 
 ii. a pen cap anterior end ( 420 ) with a pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ) disposed thereon, wherein the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ) is sized to allow only the ballpoint tip ( 340 ) to slidably pass through; 
 iii. a cylindrical pen cap channel ( 430 ) fluidly connecting the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ) to the pen cap posterior aperture ( 415 ), wherein the pen cap channel ( 430 ) is sized to snugly and slidably interface with the pen housing exterior surface ( 250 ); and 
 iv. at least one linear pen cap through-slot ( 440 ) disposed through a pen cap side surface ( 435 ), wherein the through-slot ( 440 ) is rectangular in shape, wherein the through-slot ( 440 ) has a slot anterior end ( 442 ) biased towards the pen cap anterior end ( 420 ) and a slot posterior end ( 444 ) biased towards the pen cap posterior end ( 410 ); 
 
 wherein the raised stopper ( 260 ) of the pen housing ( 200 ) is disposed through the through-slot ( 440 ) of the pen cap ( 400 ) such that linearly sliding the pen cap ( 400 ) causes the pen cap ( 400 ) to move longitudinally relative to the pen housing ( 200 ), wherein the raised stopper ( 260 ) has a width about equal to a width of the through-slot ( 440 ) such that the raised stopper ( 260 ) snugly fits through the through-slot to prevent latitudinal movement of the pen cap relative to the pen housing ( 200 ), 
 wherein when the pen cap ( 400 ) is slid in a first direction to engage the raised stopper ( 260 ) with the slot posterior end ( 444 ), the pen cap ( 400 ) is place in an extended position such that the pen cap ( 400 ) covers the ballpoint tip ( 340 ), and the engagement of the raised stopper ( 260 ) with the slot posterior end ( 444 ) prevents the pen cap ( 400 ) from being separated from the pen housing ( 200 ), and 
 wherein when the pen cap ( 400 ) is slid in a second direction opposite of the first direction to engage the raised stopper ( 260 ) with the slot anterior end ( 442 ), the pen cap ( 400 ) is place in a retracted position such that the ballpoint tip ( 340 ) protrudes from the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ), and the pen cap posterior end ( 410 ) interfaces with the pen housing shoulder ( 240 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen cap side surface ( 435 ) is textured to enable a user to grip the pen cap ( 400 ) for writing. 
     
     
       3. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen cap side surface ( 435 ) comprises a plurality of annular ridges ( 460 ) to enable a user to grip the pen cap ( 400 ) for writing. 
     
     
       4. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) conically tapers near the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ) and is narrowest at the pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ), and wherein the pen cap ( 400 ) conically tapers near the pen cap anterior end ( 420 ) and is narrowest at the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ). 
     
     
       5. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the raised stopper ( 260 ) comprises a flat square edge ( 262 ) for engaging with the slot posterior end ( 444 ) to prevent separation of the pen cap ( 400 ) and the pen housing ( 200 ), and an opposing bevelled edge ( 264 ) for engaging with the slot anterior end ( 442 ). 
     
     
       6. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
       7. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) is in a shape of a rectangular prism. 
     
     
       8. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) is in a shape of a triangular prism. 
     
     
       9. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) comprises at least two raised stoppers ( 260 ) radially disposed thereon, and wherein the pen cap ( 400 ) comprises at least two linear through-slots ( 440 ) in alignment with the raised stoppers ( 260 ). 
     
     
       10. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
       11. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) is in a shape of a rectangular prism. 
     
     
       12. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) is in a shape of a triangular prism. 
     
     
       13. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) comprises three raised stoppers ( 260 ), and wherein the pen cap ( 400 ) comprises three through-slots ( 440 ). 
     
     
       14. A ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) comprising:
 a. a tubular pen housing ( 200 ) comprising:
 i. a pen housing cavity ( 210 ); 
 ii. a pen housing anterior end ( 220 ) having a pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ) disposed thereon, wherein the pen housing cavity ( 210 ) is fluidly connected to the pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ); 
 iii. a pen housing posterior end ( 230 ); 
 iv. a pen housing shoulder ( 240 ) radially disposed around a pen housing exterior surface ( 250 ) and proximal to the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ); and 
 v. a plurality of raised stoppers ( 260 ) protruding from the pen housing exterior surface ( 250 ), wherein the raised stoppers ( 260 ) are radially disposed between the pen housing shoulder ( 240 ) and the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ); 
 
 b. a ballpoint ink cartridge ( 300 ) having a ballpoint tip ( 340 ), wherein the ballpoint ink cartridge ( 300 ) is disposed inside the pen housing cavity ( 210 ) such that only the ballpoint tip ( 340 ) projects through and away from the pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ); and 
 c. a pen cap ( 400 ) disposed on the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ) for capping the ballpoint tip ( 340 ), wherein the pen cap ( 400 ) comprises:
 i. a pen cap posterior end ( 410 ) with a pen cap posterior aperture ( 415 ) disposed thereon; 
 ii. a pen cap anterior end ( 420 ) with a pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ) disposed thereon, wherein the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ) is sized to allow only the ballpoint tip ( 340 ) to slidably pass through; 
 iii. a cylindrical pen cap channel ( 430 ) fluidly connecting the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ) to the pen cap posterior aperture ( 415 ), wherein the pen cap channel ( 430 ) is sized to snugly and slidably interface with the pen housing exterior surface ( 250 ); and 
 iv. a plurality of linear pen cap through-slots ( 440 ) disposed through a pen cap side surface ( 435 ), wherein each through-slot ( 440 ) is rectangular in shape, wherein each through-slot ( 440 ) has a slot anterior end ( 442 ) biased towards the pen cap anterior end ( 420 ) and a slot posterior end ( 444 ) biased towards the pen cap posterior end ( 410 ); 
 
 wherein the through-slots ( 440 ) are aligned with the raised stoppers ( 260 ) such that each raised stopper ( 260 ) is disposed through the through-slot ( 440 ), wherein linearly sliding the pen cap ( 400 ) causes the pen cap ( 400 ) to move longitudinally relative to the pen housing ( 200 ), wherein each raised stopper ( 260 ) has a width about equal to a width of the through-slot ( 440 ) such that each raised stopper ( 260 ) snugly fits through the through-slot to prevent latitudinal movement of the pen cap relative to the pen housing ( 200 ), 
 wherein when the pen cap ( 400 ) is slid in a first direction to engage the raised stoppers ( 260 ) with the slot posterior ends ( 444 ), the pen cap ( 400 ) is place in an extended position such that the pen cap ( 400 ) covers the ballpoint tip ( 340 ), and the engagement of the raised stoppers ( 260 ) with the slot posterior ends ( 444 ) prevents the pen cap ( 400 ) from being separated from the pen housing ( 200 ), and 
 wherein when the pen cap ( 400 ) is slid in a second direction opposite of the first direction to engage the raised stoppers ( 260 ) with the slot anterior ends ( 442 ), the pen cap ( 400 ) is place in a retracted position such that the ballpoint tip ( 340 ) protrudes from the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ), and the pen cap posterior end ( 410 ) interfaces with the pen housing shoulder ( 240 ). 
 
     
     
       15. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the pen cap side surface ( 435 ) is textured to enable a user to grip the pen cap ( 400 ) for writing. 
     
     
       16. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the pen cap side surface ( 435 ) comprises a plurality of annular ridges ( 460 ) to enable a user to grip the pen cap ( 400 ) for writing. 
     
     
       17. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the pen housing ( 200 ) conically tapers near the pen housing anterior end ( 220 ) and is narrowest at the pen housing anterior aperture ( 225 ), and wherein the pen cap ( 400 ) conically tapers near the pen cap anterior end ( 420 ) and is narrowest at the pen cap anterior aperture ( 425 ). 
     
     
       18. The ballpoint pen system ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein each raised stopper ( 260 ) comprises a flat square edge ( 262 ) for engaging with the slot posterior end ( 444 ) to prevent separation of the pen cap ( 400 ) and the pen housing ( 200 ), and an opposing bevelled edge ( 264 ) for engaging with the slot anterior end ( 442 ).